Is it a cold?
Hayfever caused by crops can trigger problems for asthma sufferers
Have you developed an irritating dry cough? Do you feel generally run down? Or perhaps you feel like you may be starting a summer cold.
It may be that the symptoms that you are experiencing are not in fact those of a cold, but asthma or hayfever or even both of these conditions combined.
There has been a lot of coverage in the news recently about the seemingly sudden increase in the numbers of adults developing the symptoms of both hayfever and asthma. Approximately 5.4 million people in the UK suffer with asthma, that is, 1 in 5 of us. Reasons for this increase in sufferers are not entirely clear with a variety of theories postulated from increase in pollution, to modern lifestyles and excessive sanitation interfering with our immune responses.
Many of us may not realise that our irritating little cough may indeed be a symptom of asthma, which can be life threatening if not recognised and treated.
The recent spells of good dry weather has brought on the grass pollen season earlier than usual and this has overlapped with the tree pollen season which began in early March. This, coupled with the spell of smog a few weeks ago has left many people struggling to breathe effectively.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition caused by the muscles in the air passages going into spasm in response to irritation (known as trigger). This causes the air passages to narrow. Additionally, the lining of these passages becomes inflamed and start to swell and also produces a lot of sticky mucus. This causes a sensation of tightness in the chest, accompanied by breathlessness, a dry irritating cough and wheeze.
What is hayfever?
Hayfever can be an extremely unpleasant condition. While it isn’t life threatening it is uncomfortable to have continually streaming nose and eyes and an itchy sore throat. It can cause headaches and a feeling of being generally unwell and listless. Hay fever or seasonal rhinitis to give it its proper name, is caused by allergies to pollen or spores. Symptoms include: itchy streaming eyes, sore throat and sneezing, itchy, blocked or runny nose.
Managing Asthma and Hayfever
If you are suffering from these symptoms it may be worthwhile having a chat to your GP or practice nurse to get advice on any treatments. Asthma needs to be formally diagnosed so that treatment plans can be put in place and progress monitored effectively.
Hayfever however, can often be managed by using over the counter anti-histamine tablets and nasal sprays. Your local pharmacist may also be able to advise you on what is best for you. General advice is to keep windows and doors closed during early morning and late evening when pollen levels rise, and to dry washing indoors, so that clothes do not become contaminated with pollen. Wearing sunglasses can help to avoid eye irritation.
Acute asthma attacks
Asthma UK have issued the following guidelines which are suitable for both children and adults and are the recommended steps to follow in an asthma attack:
- Take one to two puffs of your reliever inhaler (usually blue), immediately.
- Sit down and try to take slow, steady breaths.
- If you do not start to feel better, take two puffs of your reliever inhaler (one puff at a time) every two minutes. You can take up to ten puffs.
- If you do not feel better after taking your inhaler as above, or if you are worried at any time, call 999.
- If an ambulance does not arrive within 10 minutes and you are still feeling unwell, repeat step 3.
- If your symptoms improve and you do not need to call 999, you still need to see a doctor or asthma nurse within 24 hours.
Further Information:
- http://www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthma/what_to_do_in_an_asthma_attack/index.html
- http://www.allergyuk.org/default.aspx
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1387822/Is-chesty-cough-actually-asthma.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
- http://www.hts-training.co.uk/courses/workplace-first-aid/first-aid-at-work.html
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Bank Holidays
April is upon us and we have a glut of Bank holidays approaching with Easter, the Royal Wedding and May Day all just around the corner. Not much time for work between the end of this week and May 2nd, especially if you are fortunate enough to take holiday in the three working days between bank holidays.
Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding
Many of you may be planning a street party or some such event to celebrate the impending nuptials of Prince William and Catherine Middleton but are being put off doing so by worries about “health and safety”.
The Health and Safety Executive are keen to point out that when it comes to parties and celebrations there is no obligation under health and safety law at all. In fact they have produced a Royal Wedding Myth of the month to dispel any would be kill-joys from claiming “health and safety” issues prevent them from celebrating.
All that is needed is a good dose of old fashioned common sense. Clearly, if you live on a busy road with lots of traffic and children coming to the party some thought needs to be given to the risks involved. However there is a wealth of information available to help you plan your celebration from your local council. Ask their advice about road closures etc.
So, bring on the bunting, trestle tables and party food! Have a super time, and show that we really know how to throw a good party.
Links:
- The HSE’s Royal Wedding Myths
- DirectGov – How to organise a street party
- The Street Party Site – Advice on organising and running a street party
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Don't forget to stretch
Thinking about exercising?
So, the sun is shining, and I am starting to think about spending more time out and about. If you are anything like me, winter has been a good excuse to avoid going running, far too cold!
Build up slowly
If you haven’t exercised for a long time you’ll need to start slowly with walking 3 times a week, and gradually build up to jogging, before going out for a serious run. Before embarking on training sessions it is essential to ensure that you’ve warmed up muscles properly. The last thing you need is to injure yourself before you’ve begun.
Warming up
The most common causes of exercise related injuries are strains and sprains due to inadequate preparation. Stretching out well before starting to exercise is key to avoiding injury, but cooling down afterwards is just as important. Ensuring you are adequately hydrated is also crucial. The first week of any new exercise plan is the one where injury is most likely.
Sprains and Strains
In the event that muscles do get strained, remember the following:
You’ll have to pay the PRICE and avoid further HARM.
PRICE stands for:
- P - Protect the the part from further injury
- R – Rest the injury
- IC – Ice- apply a cold pack to the area to reduce bruising and swelling for a minimum of 10 minutes. Then allow the skin to come back up to temperature before reapplying if necessary. Always wrap the ice pack in a cloth so the ice doesn’t come in direct contact with the skin. This action will help with pain control.
- E – Elevate the injured part to reduce the swelling.
Avoid further harm
Make sure you avoid further harm by:
- not applying heat, as this will cause the bleeding and bruising to get worse for at least 72 hours. After that time a little heat may help soothe matters.
- Avoid alcohol as this may increase bleeding
- Avoid Running or other forms of exercise for a few days.
- Avoid Massage for at least 72 hours as it may cause more damage to the area.
Visit our FAQ pages for more information on sprains and strains.
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Garden safety
It’s that time of year again!
We all have sheds and garages that are crammed full of stuff and bits of things we might need in the future. Over the winter more stuff just gets piled in and perhaps now it’s time to tidy it up.
But before you embark on your gardening/shed clearing this weekend, bear in mind that 1 in 5 of all accidents happen in the garden.
Cuts, bruises, and more…
Each year, many people arrive at A&E departments with injuries ranging from the minor sprains, cuts and blisters to the more severe bleed, broken bones and amputations, caused by accidents in and around the home and garden.
Don’t forget to check your equipment
Taking some time to check your equipment and safe storage of things such as weedkillers, adhesives and solvents could prevent nasty things happening. Most of these are common sense and really don’t take much time out of our busy days to deal with. Lets face it, a few minutes spent checking and maintaining equipment and clearing out the shed/garage may save time in A& E later.
RoSPA Checklist
Helpfully, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) have produced a checklist to help householders think about safety issues in the home and garden:
Ladders:
Ladders should be checked before using them to ensure they are in good repair and that they are placed at a safe angle (1in 4). It is almost incredible to think that people would climb up a ladder where the rungs were worn, but they do!
Chemicals:
Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when using weed killers, and never transfer chemicals to alternative containers that could confuse and lead to poisoning.
Sharp Tools:
Maintain sharp tools and remember to put them away tidily after to use to prevent injury, particularly to children.
Paths:
Keep paths and steps level, stable and clear of any moss that might cause slips trips and falls.
Provide safety rails and barriers to changes in garden levels.
Fires:
Site bonfires well away from fences, sheds and trees, and keep children away from them too.
Adhering to theses simple rules makes gardening safer for everyone concerned, so that you can enjoy your time in the garden and make the most of any fine weather.
Happy Gardening!
Links:
http://www.rospa.com/homesafety/adviceandinformation/general/home-garden-checklist.aspx
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Is 4 too young to learn first aid?
Accidents happen regularly, particularly in homes and schools and usually adults are about to help deal with the situation and take charge.
But what happens if it is the adult who is injured, and children are the only ones around able to respond? Can children effectively assess a situation and deal with it appropriately?
If taught the right skills, could children as young as 4 or 5 help?
Mummy’s little helper
There are often reports in the news of toddlers and small children who save their parents lives by calling for emergency service help and who open airways by putting their parent in the recovery position. So should small children be taught very basic first aid skills?
A recent study
A recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, suggested that children in Norway as young as 4 or 5 have been taught to perform first aid effectively, following training in the “5 finger rule”. Moreover that they can remember these skills up to 2 months later, correctly calling for help and putting a casualty into the recovery position, having managed their airway effectively.
The five finger rule
- Look at the person
- Talk to the person
- Touch them and try to wake them up
- Call emergency services
- Stay with the person and give comfort.
The study taught the children the five finger rule and how to prevent an airway being blocked by vomit by putting the casualty in the recovery position and calling for help. The children were then asked to help someone who had fallen off their bike and was not moving. Using team work the children managed the situation properly. Two months later they could still work out if someone was unconscious or sleeping and whether they were breathing.
Conclusions
The study concluded that small children are able to help in emergency situations and should be taught some very rudimentary skills from an early age, perhaps during preschool and foundation stages of schooling, as they may be the only ones available to help.
From my own perspective as someone who first learnt first aid at a young age, I think teaching first aid to children from a young age is invaluable. Many children learn skills very easily and have an innate compassion and desire to help others that should be fostered. Would it be too much trouble to teach a few lessons in first aid? You never know, it might be your life that a child saves.
Further reading
http://www.sjtrem.com/content/pdf/1757-7241-19-13.pdf
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Should you wear a helmet?
As the February half term holiday approaches, many of you will be setting off on skiing or snowboarding holidays.
Ski Safety
But how much thought have you given to your safety on the slopes? Do you routinely use helmets to protect yourself in the same way as you use a seatbelt to prevent injuries in cars? Collisions on the slopes with other skiers and trees are the most common causes of head injury yet not many are yet wearing protective headgear.
Fatalities
There have been some fatalities on ski slopes caused by collisions, most notably the actress Natasha Richardson who died in Canada in 2009 having sustained head injuries during a fall on the beginners’ slopes. A mother of four also died in Austria following a collision with another person. Neither were wearing helmets.
Helmets reduce injury
A study reported today in the news has concluded that helmets should be more readily available to skiers and snow boarders to prevent traumatic head injuries and deaths on ski slopes. This is based on evidence that head injuries in adults are reduced by 35% and by up to 59% in children by wearing helmets.
The suggestion is that helmets should be more readily available, perhaps on loan or as part of holiday packages, to encourage those currently put off by the high prices of helmets, to use them. It is now mandatory for children under 16 to wear them in Austria but other countries have yet to make them compulsory.
Some instructors and skiers still think they are unnecessary and that wearing them gives false confidence, encouraging risky behaviour on the slopes. Hopefully this latest evidence will encourage more people to wear them and thus prevent more injuries.
Further reading
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8316670/Loan-helmets-to-skiers-and-boarders-urge-scientists.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12415801
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d857
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Food allergies appear to be on the increase. A new study out this week stated that some 25,000 people are affected by a peanut allergy, with children aged between 5-9, the most likely to be affected and boys from wealthier backgrounds more likely to have it than girls.
More than 18 million affected
According to the Anaphylaxis Campaign more than 18 million people in the UK are affected by allergy at some time in their lives. Approximately 1 million of those will have severe, life threatening allergies.
Common Triggers
Common triggers include:
- peanuts
- tree nuts
- dairy products
- kiwi
- fish & shellfish
- sesame, and
- eggs.
Symptoms
Symptoms often include:
- difficulty breathing
- swelling of the mouth and throat
- itchy rashes, and
- collapse.
Avoiding problems
Food-related allergies are becoming an increasing problem. Those affected must continually read the ingredient list every time they buy products, as recipes and production methods can vary. It’s not just foods that can be affected either. Allergens can appear in a wide variety of other things too including skin products, medicines and cosmetics.Labels such as “may contain nuts” or “produced in a factory that handles nuts” do not help the allergy sufferer much as it reduces the amount of foodstuffs that are available to them. It is not worth ignoring the warning and taking the risk as small traces of the allergens may be present.
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Workshop
In response to increasing risks, and in conjunction with food safety experts Safer Food Scores, we have developed a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Workshop in order to inform businesses working with food of food allergens, their controls and what to do if someone develops suffers and anaphylactic reaction.
For Further reading see:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12364160
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/02February/Pages/peanut-allergies-in-England.aspx
http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/allergy/peanut-reaction-more-common-in-boys/5025498.article
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
So we have been well and truly battered by cold winds, snow and ice for a second time.
Whilst children have been very excited about playing in the snow, many adults have more mixed feelings about it. It may look very beautiful with the sun shining on it, but travelling to and from work has been made difficult to say the least. Even the shortest of journeys have, in many cases become really tricky.
Sadly, this kind of weather causes all kinds of injuries from simple slips, trips and falls to minor shunts and more serious car accidents.
Are you prepared for any eventuality?
The AA, RAC and other motoring organisations recommend that you need to be adequately prepared before you set out on any journey. As a minimum, you should take with you a fully charged mobile phone, a torch, a shovel, a few blankets, and some food and water in case you get stuck. Leaving a sack in the boot, in case you need to get traction under the wheels to get out of snowdrifts is also a good idea.
It is also useful to check the contents of the first aid kit you carry in the car (you do carry one, don’t you?), to make sure that it is fully stocked and in date. It’s also good to know that someone in the car has been on a recent first aid training course.
In the event of trips and falls on icy pavements, the most likely injuries are sprains and broken bones. It can often be difficult to tell the difference between a sprain and a break as it is not always that obvious. However, if you have fallen, and are suffering pain over the affected area, then continuing pain, as well as swelling and an inability to move or weight bear on the affected part are often indicators of damage.
As always, if you are in doubt, seek medical advice and move the injured part as little as is practicable. Bear in mind also that the emergency services may also take a while to get to you as they are inundated with callers and are also struggling to get about.
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
You can tell it’s winter when the Norovirus rears its head again. Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency and NHS Direct have shown that the numbers of people infected with the bug have shown a sharp increase over the last two weeks according to The Telegraph (22/11/10). It is a bug that appears more frequently during the winter months but can appear at any time in the year.
What is it?
Norovirus or “winter vomiting” as it is more commonly known is a viral infection that causes violent vomiting and diarrhoea. It is extremely contagious and is spread by direct contact through poor hygiene after using the toilet etc then spread through contact with door handles, computer keyboards etc. It can also be caught when someone vomits and small droplets enter the air.
Incubation of the virus is 24-48 hours and starts with projectile vomiting, diarrhoea and fever which can last for up to 48 hours. For most of us this is extremely unpleasant but self limiting and the main treatment is rest and fluids.
Higher Risk Groups
However, for the very young, the old and those who are immune compromised it can be a serious condition and may prove to be fatal as dehydration may become a big issue with these population groups.
Treatment
Due to the infectious nature of the bug, it is advised that people afflicted by it should rest, try to drink plenty of fluids and if they have any concerns they should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, rather than going to their GP or A&E unit where they may spread the disease to staff and other patients. Wherever possible do not prepare food while you are unwell and take an extra day or two to recover fully before going back to work, as you may still be contagious, even though symptoms have stopped.
Prevention is better…
As always, prevention is better than cure. So to reduce your risk of catching winter vomiting, please make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and keep things like door handles clean too.
Further reading:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8149551/Winter-vomiting-bug-takes-hold.html
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
Automated External Defibrillator
Defibrillators are the magic boxes that deliver a controlled electric shock that helps to get a heart that has gone into an irregular lethal rhythm back into a normal one. Increasingly more of them are now being placed in strategic locations across the country; in shopping malls, airports, businesses, factories and offices. It is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 of them out and about in the UK.
Historically only those who have been trained to use one could do so. However since the latest guidelines on resuscitation have been published there is a greater emphasis on anyone being able to use one if it is available, although obviously having some training helps.
Ok I hear you say, what do they do, how do they work and are they really easy to use?
First – The Basics:
The heart pumps blood around the human body, delivering oxygen to all its vital organs. When someone has a heart attack, very often the damage causes their heart to go into an abnormal rhythm, the most common of which is ventricular fibrillation. This rhythm means that the heart cannot pump blood round the body, and if left untreated, the patient will die. Every minute that the heart is not pumping, the chances of survival reduce by about 10%.
Research shows…
Research has shown that if an AED can be attached to a person whose heart has stopped and a shock delivered within the first few minutes of an arrest, the chances of success are high, at about 70%. This is obviously good news as approximately 30,000 suffer a cardiac arrest, where the heart stops, each year. By the way, without an AED, chances are more like 2% to 5%.
AEDs are very simple to use and the good news is that anyone can use them. Just turn them on and listen carefully to the automated instructions, which will tell you how and when to activate the device, and when to continue CPR.
Have a go
Next time you find a collapsed non breathing casualty try CPR and if there is an AED about don’t be afraid to use it. It isn’t possible to hurt someone by using it. The machines are programmed only to deliver shocks to those who are in a shockable rhythm like ventricular fibrillation and will not discharge a shock unless that is the case.
So have a go and remember you might just save a life!
For further reading see:
http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/aed.pdf
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1329133/Defibrillators-Now-start-heart.html
Contact HTS Training to book an in-house AED course, or order a defib for your workplace
The Author
Heather Sawyer is a Registered Nurse, First Aid Trainer and Director of Training at HTS Training Ltd, a specialist provider of first aid training courses for businesses and individuals.
